Primordial Era: Reborn as a Qi Immortal, Steadily Cultivating

Chapter 164 Jade Purity and Bliss

Ao Xuan's majestic dragon body, stretching for tens of thousands of feet, soared through the vast and boundless East Sea.

Each swing of its tail traverses a vast ocean spanning hundreds of millions of miles.

Even so, it took them nearly a hundred years to travel to the very end of the East Sea before they finally saw the true face of Penglai Island.

Legend has it that Penglai Island, Fangzhang Island, and Yingzhou Island are not products of this primordial world.

Instead, it was formed from fragments of chaos that fell from the boundless chaotic sea during the great calamity of creation!
The laws contained within it are not the primordial laws that have long been established by the Heavenly Dao.

Rather, it is the more ancient and primordial principle of chaos.

Therefore, these three islands form a world of their own, and the secrets of heaven are not revealed.

Even saints who have already attained the Primordial Dao Fruit cannot deduce its specific location.

Apart from Penglai Immortal Island, which is now revered as an unparalleled holy land by the scattered cultivators of the East Sea.

The other two islands had long since vanished from this world over the endless years, leaving no trace whatsoever.

When Ma Yuan's calm and serene gaze fell once again on the distant horizon.

Even with his current Dao heart, which has already seen countless blessed lands of immortals, he still possesses great power.

I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at the magnificent sight before me.

Where the sea meets the sky, a vast and majestic immortal island, radiant with celestial light and imbued with the essence of Tao, floats silently above the boundless blue waves!
This place truly deserves to be called a sacred realm comparable to the Western Kunlun Sacred Realm and the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain!

The innate spiritual energy, which was already extremely concentrated, transformed into a visible mist of immortal energy, enveloping the entire immortal island.

Furthermore, endless auspicious clouds and mist gathered above the fairy island, forming a canopy.

The figures of celestial birds and mythical beasts could be faintly seen among them, frolicking and soaring.

What a carefree and detached atmosphere!

Ao Xuan's enormous dragon body slowly came to a stop outside the immortal island.

Ma Yuan and the others leaped down from the dragon's head.

His gaze swept calmly over the already bustling and sacred immortal land before him.

At this moment, the island was already teeming with immortals, a magnificent sight to behold!

Countless powerful beings from the primordial world, dressed in various Taoist robes and exuding a profound aura, gathered from all corners of the world at this moment!

The Golden Immortal cultivators who had condensed the Immortal Dao Fruit were as numerous as carp crossing a river, as many as hairs on a cow!

Meanwhile, the Taiyi True Immortals, who possess the Five Elements and are indestructible through countless eons, also gathered in groups of three or five on that cloud platform to discuss the Dao and verify their respective insights!
The scene before us can be described as a rain of golden immortals and a multitude of Taiyi immortals!
Ma Yuan could even clearly sense that in the deepest part of that immortal island, there was a quasi-saint aura that was above ordinary Daluo, faintly appearing there!

At the center of that immortal island, on the highest point, stood a cloud platform forged from innate white jade.

An ancient Taoist priest, dressed in a simple gray robe, was sitting cross-legged.

Its appearance was ancient and simple, and its aura had long since become one with the entire Penglai Immortal Island.

The old Taoist priest, with a gentle smile on his face, quietly watched the guests who had gathered from all directions.

It was none other than the Canghai Ancestor, who had long since lived in seclusion on the East Sea for countless eons!

Ma Yuan's gaze swept slowly across the thousands of immortals and gods once again, and soon he discovered many familiar figures, or top-level experts who had left behind a great reputation in later legends.

Soon, he noticed a middle-aged Taoist priest sitting in a superior seat.

The Taoist priest was dressed in a Bagua robe, with a square face and an imposing presence. He sat alone with his eyes closed.

His Daoist aura merged with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and he had already faintly reached the mid-stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm!

It was Guang Chengzi, a disciple of the Chan Sect!
He happened to be traveling here and, upon hearing of such a grand event, naturally wouldn't miss it.

For him, this place was the perfect place to expound the orthodox teachings of Jade Void.

In another inconspicuous corner.

Ma Yuan, however, saw a familiar figure.

Maitreya, who had once tried to force his way into Skull Mountain Dojo, was now walking among the myriad immortals with another Taoist priest whose face was gaunt and who exuded endless sorrow.

His demeanor was extremely humble, and his face always wore a gentle smile of compassion.

"Fellow Daoist, judging from the dark discoloration on your forehead, you may face a bloody disaster."

"However, you possess extraordinary potential and are destined to be with us in the West. Why not come with us to Mount Sumeru to listen to the wondrous teachings of the sages, thus resolving this karmic entanglement? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The phrase "Fellow Daoist, you and I are destined to meet in the West" was constantly uttered from his mouth.

He did indeed persuade many rogue cultivators who had long given up hope of finding a way to cultivate, and they followed him with great excitement.

In addition, there were countless powerful rogue cultivators who gathered from all corners of the primordial world.

They were in small groups, their auras varied and different.

However, without exception, their faces all radiated a spirited and unrestrained attitude.

It was at this moment that Ma Yuan and his group of five entered.

The normally bustling meeting room fell silent for a moment.

Especially when Zhao Gongming, with his bold and unrestrained nature, did not restrain his overwhelming aura, which had already reached the Great Luo realm, in the slightest.

Countless gazes, filled with awe, curiosity, and even fear, converged upon them in an instant!

"That's... Zhao Gongming and the Three Immortal Maidens of the Three Immortal Islands!"

"Hiss—! I never expected that even top-tier experts like them, who have long since secluded themselves from the world, would actually show up here today!"

"And who is that person beside Zhao Gongming? His aura is as deep as the sea, and I cannot see through his depths at all!"

The myriad immortals and gods were abuzz with discussion.

There were already attendants, who respectfully led Ma Yuan and his group of five to the best seats that had been prepared for them.

Ma Yuan calmly took his seat, his gaze sweeping over the thousands of immortals and gods below, a sense of emotion rising in his heart.

He had thought that since the six sages appeared together and the witches and demons confronted each other, the entire prehistoric world would be shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere of impending storm.

All spirits fell silent, and there was no longer any freedom to speak of.

Unexpectedly, on this East Sea, there was such a grand gathering of immortals, seeking the Great Dao.

This scene evokes a sense of the simple, unspoiled nature of ancient times, before the myriad races vied for supremacy.

This made even a person from outside the secular world feel a sense of satisfaction and approval.

It was at this moment, in that corner not far away.

Maitreya, who was busy saving all sentient beings, suddenly paused slightly without warning.

He slowly turned around and saw the Taoist in green robes sitting calmly on the futon.

Those eyes, which seemed to contain endless wisdom, were instantly filled with undisguised astonishment!
After the initial surprise, the gentle smile that Maitreya had always worn on his face became all the more meaningful.

He whispered a few words to the gaunt Taoist priest beside him.

Without further hesitation, he took the initiative to walk slowly towards Ma Yuan's direction in front of all those immortals and gods.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of countless people filled with astonishment and uncertainty, he slowly stopped in front of Ma Yuan.

"Fellow Daoist Ma Yuan."

Maitreya's face once again displayed that signature gentle smile.

He clasped his hands together and solemnly performed a Buddhist salute to Ma Yuan.

"Fellow Daoist Ma Yuan, it's been since we parted ways at Skull Mountain that we've met again here today. It's truly fate!"

Faced with Maitreya's meaningful greeting, Ma Yuan simply smiled calmly and looked up at him with a composed expression.

His gaze was clear and unwavering.

It was as if he was not facing a sage disciple of a sect who held the future destiny of Buddhism.

He was just an ordinary old friend from the mountains.

"Fellow Daoist Maitreya, how have you been?"

A calm voice slowly rose.

His demeanor was composed and neither arrogant nor humble; under the watchful eyes of all the immortals, he possessed a transcendent air.

Seeing this, Zhao Gongming and the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao couldn't help but show a hint of curiosity in their eyes.

They were well aware that although the Maitreya Taoist in front of them was humble in demeanor...

However, his cultivation had already reached the Great Luo realm, and he also possessed the immense fortune of the Western Sect. Unexpectedly, he also had some connection with Fellow Daoist Ma Yuan.

However, they were ultimately calm and composed people, and although they were curious, they did not ask any questions at that moment.

Seeing Ma Yuan's reaction, a subtle, almost imperceptible glint flashed in Maitreya's eyes.

He was well aware that the primordial world had already entered the era of the Six Saints.

As disciples of the Sage's Sect walk between heaven and earth, their status and position have long since risen accordingly.

It is far beyond what ordinary rogue cultivators can compare to.

However, the Taoist in the green robe before them possessed an even more profound and unfathomable aura than he had several eons ago.

It was as if the majesty of a saint, which was enough to inspire awe in all immortals, was nothing but fleeting smoke in his eyes, not worth mentioning.

Maitreya could clearly sense that Ma Yuan's aura was not obvious.

However, the essence of its Dao is many times more profound and solid than when we first met on Skull Mountain!
Its body is surrounded by a supreme Daoist aura that has long been a world of its own, untouched by cause and effect.

This made him somewhat unable to see through the subtle details.

"Fellow Daoist's demeanor is even more impressive than before, truly a cause for celebration."

Maitreya clasped his hands together again, his face still bearing that same gentle smile that had remained unchanged for millennia.

"My fellow Daoist's aura is perfectly harmonious, and his Dao fruit is naturally formed. He must have made a tremendous breakthrough on the Great Dao."

"It was nothing more than a chance discovery in the mountains and wilderness; I am unworthy of such praise from you, fellow Daoist," Ma Yuan replied calmly with a smile.

Although their verbal exchange was understated, it was nonetheless witty and cunning.

However, none of the thousands of immortals and gods present paid any attention to them anymore.

It was precisely in this subtle atmosphere that the gentle and vast voice of the Canghai Ancestor, seated high atop the central Merit Cloud Platform, slowly resounded throughout the entire Penglai Immortal Island.

"Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly."

Sensing the quasi-saintly Daoist aura in the words of the Canghai Ancestor, the once somewhat noisy venue instantly fell completely silent.

Maitreya said no more, bowed to Ma Yuan once more, and then slowly returned to his seat.

The Ancestor of the Vast Ocean calmly swept his gaze over the thousands of immortals and gods below, whose seats were already packed, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.

"The age of sages has arrived, the secrets of heaven are changing, and the great trend is like a tide. We, the scattered cultivators in this world, are increasingly confused about the road ahead."

His voice carried a hint of unspoken emotion.

"Today's gathering is not for some empty, vain contest of pride, nor for any distinction of superiority or inferiority."

"It is solely for the purpose of mutually verifying each other's paths beyond this sacred road, and each expounding their own way, so that among these myriad methods, we may find a path to heaven that allows us to secure our place in the world!"

"I will now offer my humble opinion as a starting point to set the stage for our fellow Daoists."

After he finished speaking, the Ancestor of the Vast Ocean did not utter another word.

He slowly closed his eyes, and from the auspicious clouds above his head, an immense quasi-saintly Daoist aura suddenly soared into the sky!

Buzz—! ! ! !

In an instant, the entire Penglai Immortal Island trembled violently!
Under the astonished gazes of countless immortals and gods, a vast and boundless azure sea, with its flowing water elements and naturally formed Daoist charm, appeared out of thin air above this immortal island without any warning!

That vast ocean is boundless, seemingly a microcosm of the entire East China Sea.

Every crystal-clear drop of water within it seems to contain the supreme understanding of the Great Dao of "the cycle of water, flowing endlessly" that this ancient quasi-saint has gained since listening to the Dao at Zixiao Palace!

At this moment, all the thousands of immortals and gods present were involuntarily immersed in that vast world of Dao Fruit!

They seemed to be in this vast ocean, personally experiencing a drop of water falling from the heavens, flowing into rivers, rushing into the sea, and finally evaporating into clouds, returning to the complete cycle of birth and death of heaven and earth!
The mysteries and profound principles within are all contained within.

It has long since transcended the realm that ordinary words can describe!

This caused many water-based cultivators present to become completely engrossed and fall into a state of sudden enlightenment!
Such effortless skill is already the supreme power of the Dao extending through heaven and earth, and the law moving with the mind, far beyond the comprehension of ordinary great beings!

It was under the exemplary leadership of this Ancestor of the Vast Ocean that the powerful figures from all sides, who had been unable to restrain themselves, followed suit and displayed their unique abilities!
"Clang—!!!!!"

A brilliant sword cry, powerful enough to tear apart metal and stone, suddenly soared into the sky from above the head of a white-haired sword immortal who had already reached the Great Luo realm!

An extremely sharp and supreme sword aura instantly tore a dark crack that stretched for hundreds of millions of miles across the azure sky!
Its sword energy contains the supreme sword essence of unyielding and indomitable spirit!
Beside him stood a Taiyi Golden Immortal dressed in a star-patterned Taoist robe, with 365 brilliant stars constantly rotating above his head, revealing the supreme mystery of the celestial rotation in the void!
There were also those alchemists who had long been immersed in the Dao of Alchemy for countless eons, who raised a purple-gold alchemy furnace before them.

The furnace was ablaze with fire, and the air was filled with the fragrance of cinnamon.

Between the birth and death of the elixir fire, the supreme and wondrous principle of Yin and Yang creation is expounded!
In an instant, countless strange phenomena appeared in the sky above the entire Penglai Immortal Island!
The Way of Music manifests as a shower of heavenly flowers and the pervasive sound of celestial music.

The Dao of Talismans transformed into countless profound runes, constructing exquisite innate Dao formations in the void.

There is also the path of body refinement, in which the physical body's blood and qi soar into the sky, transforming into a majestic Dharma image that is ten thousand feet tall, practicing the most primitive and domineering Heaven-Opening Fist above the clouds!
At this moment, all the great paths roared in unison!

Their extraordinary phenomena complement each other, and their Daoist principles collide with one another!
At this moment, the entire Penglai Immortal Island was completely transformed into an unprecedented grand feast of cultivation!
The scene was so magnificent and the methods so numerous that it had a hint of the three thousand mortals discussing the Dao in the Zixiao Palace in the past!

It was precisely at this peak of harmony that all laws resonated.

Guang Chengzi, the chief disciple of the Chan Sect who had been resting with his eyes closed in the upper seats, finally slowly opened his eyes.

Looking at the bustling yet chaotic spectacle before him, a faint smile crept onto his lips.

That smile carried a hint of the reserve and pride that comes from being a disciple of a sage.

He slowly shook his head without saying a word.

Above his head, a simple golden lamp slowly rose from the auspicious clouds!

As soon as the golden lamp appeared, it cast countless strands of brilliant, clear light, like white jade, into the void!
The myriad wondrous phenomena of scattered cultivators that had been vying for brilliance above the immortal island were instantly dimmed and lost all their splendor under the illumination of this jade-colored light!

Within that clear light, a solemn scene filled with supreme majesty slowly unfolded!

Heaven governs all things, and its order is absolute!
Everything is different, and purity and turbidity are naturally distinguished!
Furthermore, there was a celestial being whose majesty and holiness defied description, who flashed past in the Jade Void Palace above the nine heavens, explaining to the myriad immortals and gods the supreme Dao of "embodying the Dao of Heaven and responding to the needs of humanity"!

The Great Way of Teaching!

Its meaning is 'to expound the Way of Heaven'!

Once this path is revealed, its status will be high and its principles will be correct.

In an instant, the strange phenomena of 99% of the rogue cultivators present were completely suppressed!

The exquisite and magnificent Jade Void Orthodox Dharma instantly captivated countless cultivators present, leaving them mesmerized and unable to contain themselves!
Especially those powerful rogue cultivators who considered themselves to have extraordinary origins, were arrogant and disdainful of associating with ordinary people with scales and feathers, were completely mesmerized at this moment.

In their eyes, this magnificent, righteous, and supreme path that conforms to the will of Heaven and the people is the true orthodox way of the Xuanmen!

However, in contrast...

Those rogue cultivators with mediocre backgrounds and meager blessings struggle to survive in this desolate wilderness.

Beneath this solemn Dao of "all things are distinct, and purity and turbidity are naturally separated," deep within that Dao heart, one felt a sense of oppression and rejection!
At this moment, a hint of resentment appeared on their faces in unison!
It was at this moment that Maitreya, who had been quietly observing from the side, and the gaunt-faced Medicine Master beside him exchanged a smile.

Without the slightest hesitation, the two of them slowly stood up from the prayer mat at the same time.

Behind his head, two brilliant beams of Buddha light, filled with boundless compassion and the meaning of Nirvana, suddenly shone brightly!
"Amitabha."

A vast Buddhist chant filled with boundless compassion resounded throughout the entire Penglai Immortal Island at that moment.

Then, the two beams of Buddhist light merged together in the void.

On the opposite side of the Chan Sect's Great Path, a phantom of the Western Paradise, filled with endless peace and tranquility, was jointly created!
In that pure land, the ground is paved with gold, and the pool is made of eight treasures, with holy water of merit gently rippling in it.

And there are countless golden lotuses of merit, slowly blooming in all parts of that pure land, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

Within this world, there is no birth, old age, sickness, or death; no resentment, hatred, or separation; and no cruel slaughter of the strong preying on the weak.

All beings are equal, and all things live in harmony!
Furthermore, the two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, sat under the Bodhi tree, explaining the supreme Dharma to countless sentient beings.

Amidst the falling flowers and the sprung golden lotuses, the scene was filled with the supreme and wondrous charm of "universal salvation," "liberation," and "great freedom"!

The Western Paradise!

Compared to Guang Chengzi's Jade Void Path, which is "unattainable" and "only those with profound virtue and merit can enter," this is a far cry from the Jade Void Path.

The Western religion's supreme vow that "regardless of origin or background, everyone can be reborn in the Pure Land, and all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature" is undoubtedly more alluring and deadly!

For the vast number of independent cultivators who have long since given up hope of finding a way to cultivate and are struggling to survive in this cruel and desolate wilderness.

This blissful world before them, free from suffering and where all beings are equal, is the only path they can see in this endless darkness.

In an instant, countless rogue cultivators whose hearts were already clouded by the dust of the Dao witnessed this scene.

In an instant, his eyes were filled with an irrepressible, fervent longing!

Even those with weak minds were moved to tears on the spot, and devoutly bowed down to the phantom of that paradise.

He kept chanting the Buddha's name, wishing to follow the two venerable ones to the Western Paradise and attain enlightenment together!
(End of this chapter)